SCRANTON – A Scranton man has initiated litigation against two individuals he says contributed to an investigation conducted by the state Attorney General’s Office into his alleged unauthorized practice of law.
Joseph Pilchesky of Scranton filed suit in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas on Jan. 5 versus Sheila Hartman and Mary Chilipko, both of Pittston.
“On Feb. 27, 2013, Pilchesky was charged with the unauthorized practice of law by the Office of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania. On Oct. 16, 2019, the defendants appeared and testified against Pilchesky at his criminal trial on the charge of unauthorized practice of law. The charges were levied against Pilchesky as the result of the defendants’ willing and voluntary participation in a criminal investigation initiated by SA John Farkus of the Office of the Attorney General, as to whether or not Pilchesky was practicing law,” the suit states.
“The investigation by Farkus was developed upon actions that were seminally initiated by the defendants, which included that the defendants sought out Pilchesky for assistance with their personal and private problems that they couldn’t resolve themselves through conventional or typical resources, and they sought out Pilchesky because they knew he was a highly public and spirited political activist who righted the wrongs of many government officials, supported the little guy and because they knew that he knew the mechanics of certain aspects of law, because his legal battles with government offices were often publicized.”
The plaintiff claims that the defendants knew he was not an attorney licensed to practice law, but nonetheless engaged in “knowingly private and confidential” discussions with Pilchesky at their solicitation regarding their personal and private issues with the legal system and government – and then signed affidavits with Farkus outlining these discussions, to support his investigation into filing criminal charges against the plaintiff.
“At no time while Farkus was in contact with the defendants had they contacted Pilchesky to give him notice that he was being investigated and that they were cooperating with the investigation,” according to the suit.
“On Oct. 16, 2018, Pilchesky was found guilty by a jury. On Jan. 2, 2019, Pilchesky was placed on probation through the Adult Probation Office of Lackawanna County for two years.”
Pilchesky labeled the defendants as “gullible, stupid, naïve, reckless, irresponsible, negligent and incompetent”, and said that as a result of their alleged conduct, he was put through a six year-long criminal process trial during which he was under the restraints of bail and had to undergo open-heart surgery.
For multiple counts of breach of confidence, invasion of privacy, defamation, perjury, unjust enrichment and deprivation of constitutional rights against both defendants, the plaintiff is seeking damages for mental and emotional pain and suffering in excess of $30,000, general damages in excess of $30,000, compensatory damages in excess of $30,000, and any other relief the Court deems appropriate.
The plaintiff is representing himself in this matter.
The defendants have not yet secured legal counsel.
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas case 2021-CV-00042
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com